Solon wants probe of Cebu Pacific, warns airline's franchise could be canceled

A lawmaker wants the House of Representative to investigate the operations of Cebu Pacific Air, which saw more than 20 flights canceled and 700 delayed during the holiday season.

 

Eastern Samar Representative Ben Evardone said he will ask the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Legislative Franchises to probe the holiday snafu, which left thousands passengers stranded from December 24 to 26. 

 

 

"Wala namang major calamity na nangyari o typhoon o cancellation na ipinatupad ang CAAP so walang rason kung bakit sila nagkaganoon so dapat talagang siyasatin ng Kongreso 'yan," Evardone said in a report on GMA 7's 24 Oras that aired on Friday. 

 

Section 3 of Republic Act 7151, which granted Cebu Pacific's franchise to operate an airline in 1991, states: "Excepting cases of force majeure and whenever weather conditions permit, the grantee shall maintain scheduled / non scheduled / chartered air transport services between and all points throughout the Philippines."

 

Evardone warned that the airline could lose its franchise if proven that it was negligent in its responsibilities. 

 

"Kapangyarihan ng Kongreso 'yan dahil kami ang nagbigay sa kanila ng franchise eh, so puwede din naming bawiin kung 'yung conditions set in the franchise ay hindi nila nasusunod. In this case, maraming nagreklamo, maraming naperwisyo," he said.

 

For its part, Cebu Pacific withheld releasing a statement until they receive a copy of Evardone's resolution. But the airline has expressed willingness to cooperate with the probe. 

 

"We have not received the official resolution from Congress as of time. We will cooperate in the congressional inquiry," Cebu Pacific Air's Vice President for Corporate Affairs Atty. Jorenz Tanada said. 

 

Separate probe

 

Earlier, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) also formed a panel to investigate the airline company after it received 14 complaints over the Christmas season. 

Last Monday, aviation and airport officials grilled Cebu Pacific over the widespread flight delays and cancellations that affected thousands of passengers over the Christmas holidays.
 

Aside from flight delays and cancellations, many passengers also missed their flights and were stranded at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 because Cebu Pacific's check-in counters were undermanned last December 26.

 

The airline company has offered passengers who were affected by flight delays and cancellations between December 23, 2014 to January 5, 2015 a choice if they want to get a refund, rebook their flights, or put them in a travel fund for future bookings. — Trisha Macas/JST, GMA News